Processing box

Abstract

The utility model relates to a processing box detachably mounted in imaging equipment, which comprises a developing unit, a processing unit, a driving unit, a driving unit, a driving unit, a driving unit and a driving unit, and is characterized in that the developing unit is provided with a developing shell and a developing roller rotatably arranged in the developing shell; the photosensitive unit is provided with a photosensitive shell and a photosensitive drum rotatably arranged in the photosensitive shell; the direction in which the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are not mounted in the process cartridge points downwards to the direction in which the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are mounted; the first driving force receiving part is used for receiving the driving force output by the imaging equipment so as to rotate around a first rotating axis and is at least used for driving the developing roller to rotate; the guide piece is used for guiding the developing unit to move relative to the photosensitive unit, so that the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are close to each other or separated from each other; the guided piece is used for being matched with the guide piece; at least one part of the guided piece is positioned above the first rotation axis; according to the design, the process cartridge is more reasonable in layout and higher in strength, and the developing unit and the photosensitive unit are easy to assemble.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of electrophotographic imaging, especially to a process cartridge which can be detachably installed in an electrophotographic imaging device. BACKGROUND

[0002] The process cartridge is a consumable which can be detachably installed in an electrophotographic imaging device (hereinafter referred to as "imaging device"), and generally comprises a developing unit and a photosensitive unit which are combined with each other. The developing unit comprises a developing housing and a developing roller rotatably arranged in the developing housing. The photosensitive unit comprises a photosensitive housing and a photosensitive drum rotatably arranged in the photosensitive housing. The developing roller is used to carry a developer accommodated by the developing housing. When the process cartridge is used for developing in the imaging device, the developing roller supplies the developer to the photosensitive drum, so that an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is developed.

[0003] When the process cartridge is not used for developing in the imaging device, in order to prevent the developer carried by the developing roller from continuously reaching the surface of the photosensitive drum, the developing unit is generally arranged to be movable relative to the photosensitive unit, so as to force the developing roller and the photosensitive drum to separate from each other. Further, the process cartridge is provided with a guide member and a guided member used for cooperating with the guide member. The guide member cooperates with the guided member to guide the movement of the developing unit relative to the photosensitive unit. However, in the prior art, the arrangement position of the guided member causes the developing unit and the photosensitive unit to be not easy to assemble. SUMMARY

[0004] Therefore, the utility model provides the process cartridge with the following technical scheme to solve the above technical problems, and the specific scheme is as follows:

[0005] The process cartridge can be detachably installed in an imaging device, and comprises a developing unit, a photosensitive unit, a first driving force receiving member, a guide member and a guided member. The developing unit comprises a developing housing and a developing roller rotatably arranged in the developing housing. The developing roller is used to carry a developer accommodated by the developing housing. The photosensitive unit comprises a photosensitive housing and a photosensitive drum rotatably arranged in the photosensitive housing. The developing roller is used to supply the developer to the photosensitive drum. The direction in which the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are not installed in the process cartridge is directed downward, and the direction opposite to the downward direction is upward. The first driving force receiving member is used to receive a driving force output by the imaging device to rotate about a first rotation axis and to drive the developing roller to rotate. The guide member is used to guide the movement of the developing unit relative to the photosensitive unit, so that the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are close to or separated from each other. The guided member is used to cooperate with the guide member. At least a part of the guided member is located upward of the first rotation axis.

[0006] Further, all of the guided member is located upward of the first rotation axis.

[0007] Further, the guide member is linear, and a projection of the guide member is a rectangle when viewed along the first rotation axis.

[0008] Further, one of the guide member and the guided member is a guide hole, and the other is a guided protrusion.

[0009] Further, the processing cartridge further comprises a driving force transmission assembly for transmitting driving force, the extending direction of the developing roller is a left-right direction, the processing cartridge further comprises a protective cover and a first end cover, the protective cover is fixedly connected with the developing housing, and the protective cover is located between the developing housing and the first end cover along the left-right direction, the protective cover is used for protecting at least part of the driving force transmission assembly, and the first driving force receiving member is exposed through the first end cover, one of the guide member and the guided member is arranged on the protective cover or the developing housing, and the other is arranged on the first end cover.

[0010] Further, the processing cartridge further comprises a driving force transmission assembly for transmitting driving force, the extending direction of the developing roller is a left-right direction, the processing cartridge further comprises a protective cover and a first end cover, the protective cover is fixedly connected with the developing housing, and the protective cover is located between the developing housing and the first end cover along the left-right direction, the protective cover is used for protecting at least part of the driving force transmission assembly, and the first driving force receiving member is exposed through the first end cover, the guided member is formed separately from the first end cover, and the guide member is arranged on the protective cover or the developing housing.

[0011] Further, the processing cartridge has the first end cover, and the first driving force receiving member is exposed through the first end cover.

[0012] Further, the guided member comprises a first guided protrusion and a second guided protrusion which are arranged at intervals, and when the processing cartridge is in a state that the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are close to each other, a straight line on which a projection center of the first guided protrusion is located and a straight line on which a projection center of the second guided protrusion is located are parallel to the first rotation axis in the up-down direction when viewed along the first rotation axis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the processing cartridge according to the embodiment one of the present application.

[0014] Figure 2 is an exploded view of part components of the processing cartridge according to the embodiment one of the present application.

[0015] Figure 3A is a perspective view of the processing cartridge combined with the protective cover according to the embodiment one of the present application.

[0016] Figure 3Bis a perspective view of the processing box after separation from the protective cover according to the first embodiment of the present application.

[0017] Figure 4A is a schematic view of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum in the processing box according to the first embodiment of the present application, viewed in the longitudinal direction when the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are close to each other.

[0018] Figure 4B is a schematic view of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum in the processing box according to the first embodiment of the present application, viewed in the longitudinal direction when the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated from each other.

[0019] Figure 5A is a schematic view of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum in the processing box according to the second embodiment of the present application, viewed in the longitudinal direction when the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are close to each other.

[0020] Figure 5B is a schematic view of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum in the processing box according to the second embodiment of the present application, viewed in the longitudinal direction when the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated from each other.

[0021] Figure 6 is an exploded view of part of the processing box according to the third embodiment of the present application.

[0022] Figure 7A is a schematic view of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum in the processing box according to the third embodiment of the present application, viewed in the longitudinal direction when the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are close to each other.

[0023] Figure 7B is a schematic view of the developing roller and the photosensitive drum in the processing box according to the third embodiment of the present application, viewed in the longitudinal direction when the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are separated from each other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The structure of the processing box and other aspects of the present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the processing box 100 is detachably installed in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “image forming apparatus”), the processing box 100 includes a developing unit 1 and a photosensitive unit 2 combined with each other, the developing unit 1 includes a developing housing 10 for accommodating a developer and a developing roller 11 rotatably arranged in the developing housing 10, the developing roller 11 is used to carry the developer; the photosensitive unit 2 includes a photosensitive housing 20 and a photosensitive drum 21 rotatably arranged in the photosensitive housing 20, the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 are arranged opposite to each other and used to supply the developer to the photosensitive drum 21 to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21.

[0026] For the sake of clarity of the following description, the extending direction of the developing roller 11 is defined as the left-right direction / longitudinal direction, the arrangement direction of the developing unit 1 and the photosensitive unit 2 is defined as the front-rear direction, the direction in which the developing unit 1 points to the photosensitive unit 2 is defined as the front direction, and the side opposite to the front direction is defined as the rear direction; the direction in which the processing cartridge 100 is not installed with the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 is defined as the lower direction, and the direction opposite to the lower direction is defined as the upper direction.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 The processing cartridge 100 further comprises a first driving force receiving member 31 and a second driving force receiving member 32, the first driving force receiving member 31 is used to receive the driving force applied by the image forming device to rotate around the first rotation axis L1 and directly or indirectly drive the developing roller 11 to rotate, the second driving force receiving member 32 is used to receive the driving force applied by the image forming device to rotate around the second rotation axis L2 and directly drive the photosensitive drum 21 to rotate, along the left-right direction, the end of the processing cartridge 100 receiving the driving force from the image forming device is defined as the driving end / left side, and the end opposite to the driving end is defined as the non-driving end / right side; in some embodiments, one of the first driving force receiving member 31 and the second driving force receiving member 32 can be provided, at this time, one of the first driving force receiving member 31 and the second driving force receiving member 32 can also directly or indirectly drive the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 to rotate; along the left-right direction, the processing cartridge 100 further comprises a first end cover 41 provided at the driving end and a second end cover 42 provided at the non-driving end, the first driving force receiving member 31 and the second driving force receiving member 32 are exposed through the first end cover 41; the developing unit 1 and the photosensitive unit 2 are connected through the first end cover 41 and the second end cover 42, the first end cover 41 and the second end cover 42 can be formed separately relative to the photosensitive housing 20 or the developing housing 10, or can be formed integrally with the photosensitive housing 20 or the developing housing 10, when the first end cover 41 and the second end cover 42 are formed integrally with the photosensitive housing 21 or the developing housing 11, the first end cover 41 and the second end cover 42 can be regarded as part of the photosensitive unit 2 or the developing unit 1; hereinafter, the first end cover 41 is integrally formed with the photosensitive housing 20 as an example for description.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2As shown, the processing cartridge 100 is also provided with a driving force transmission assembly for transmitting driving force, the driving force transmission assembly at least comprises a driving gear 33 and a developing roller gear 34 which are engaged with each other, the driving gear 33 is used for transmitting the driving force received by the first driving force receiving member 31 to other components of the developing unit 1; the processing cartridge 100 further comprises a protective cover 13 which is arranged at the longitudinal end of the developing housing 10, the protective cover 13 is fixedly connected with the developing housing 10, along the longitudinal direction, the protective cover 13 is located between the developing housing 10 and the first end cover 41, the protective cover 13 is used for protecting at least part of the driving force transmission assembly.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the processing cartridge 100 further comprises a separation mechanism 5, in the state that the processing cartridge 100 is installed to the image forming device, when the processing cartridge 100 does not need to perform developing work, in order to avoid that the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is polluted by the developer carried by the developing roller 11 due to the long time close contact between the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21, the separation mechanism 5 receives a separation force applied from the image forming device, makes the developing unit 1 movable relative to the photosensitive unit 2, so as to force the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 to separate from each other; the processing cartridge 100 is also provided with a shielding piece 6, along the longitudinal direction, the shielding piece 6 is farther away from the developing housing 10 than the separation mechanism 5, and is used for protecting the separation mechanism 5 in the longitudinal direction.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3A and Figure 3B The utility model also relates to a protective cover 7 which is detachably installed to the processing cartridge 100, specifically, the protective cover 7 has a protective cover main body 70 and a connecting piece 71 which is formed on the protective cover main body 70 and extends therefrom, the connecting piece 71 has a buckling part 711 which is formed thereon, the first end cover 41 has a first end cover main body 410 and a buckled part 411 which is formed on the first end cover main body 410, the buckled part 411 is used for cooperating with the buckling part 711, so as to realize the detachable combination of the protective cover 7 and the processing cartridge 100, further, when the protective cover 7 is installed to the processing cartridge 100, along the up-down direction, at least part of the protective cover main body 70 is opposite to the photosensitive drum 21, so that the photosensitive drum 21 can be protected by the protective cover main body 70; preferably, the buckling part 711 is arranged as a buckling protrusion, and the buckled part 411 is arranged as a hole or a groove.

[0031] In some embodiments, the buckled part 411 can also be arranged as a buckling protrusion, at this time, the buckling part 711 is arranged as a hole or a groove, and the detachable combination of the protective cover 7 and the processing cartridge 100 can also be realized.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4A and Figure 4BAs shown, since the developing roller 11 needs to be separated from the photosensitive drum 21 when the processing cartridge 100 does not perform developing work, the developing unit 1 is arranged to be movable relative to the photosensitive unit 2, so that the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 are separated from each other. Therefore, the processing cartridge 100 further comprises a guide 8 arranged on the first end cover body 410, and a guided part 9 arranged on one of the cover 13 and the developing housing 10, and the guided part 9 cooperates with the guide 8 to realize relative movement of the developing unit 1 and the photosensitive unit 2 along a predetermined path, which is a movement path enabling the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 to approach or move away from each other. Preferably, the guide 8 is a guide hole, and the guided part 9 is a protrusion, and the guide 8 is preferably linear.

[0033] Further, as shown in Figure 2 , Figure 4A and Figure 4B , the guide 8 comprises a first guide hole 81 and a second guide hole 82 arranged at intervals, and the projections of the first guide hole 81 and the second guide hole 82 are both rectangular when viewed in the longitudinal direction. The guided part 9 comprises a first guided protrusion 91 and a second guided protrusion 92 arranged at intervals, the first guided protrusion 91 is used to cooperate with the first guide hole 81, and the second guided protrusion 92 is used to cooperate with the second guide hole 82, so as to realize combination of the developing unit 1 and the photosensitive unit 2, and relative movement of the developing unit 1 and the photosensitive unit 2 along the predetermined path.

[0034] Further, as shown in Figure 4A and Figure 4B , along the predetermined path, the first guide hole 81 has a first end 81a and a second end 81b, and the second guide hole 82 has a third end 82a and a fourth end 82b. When the processing cartridge 100 performs developing work, as shown in Figure 4A , the guided part 9 is located at an initial position, specifically, the first guided protrusion 91 is located at the first end 81a, and the second guided protrusion 92 is located at the third end 82a. When the processing cartridge 100 does not perform developing work, the separation mechanism 5 receives a separation force applied by the image forming device, as shown in Figure 4B , the developing unit 1 rotates in a rotation direction r, the first guided protrusion 91 moves from the first end 81a to the second end 81b, and the second guided protrusion 92 moves from the third end 82a to the fourth end 82b, so that the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 are separated from each other.

[0035] In some embodiments, the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 are separated when the first guided protrusion 91 moves to the second end 81b, and the second guided protrusion 92 moves to the fourth end 82b.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4AAnd Figure 4B As shown in the figure, a straight line M parallel to the front-rear direction is made through the first rotation axis L1. When the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 are in the state of approaching each other or in the state of moving away from each other, at least a part of the guided member 9 is above the first rotation axis L1 / straight line M in the up-down direction, and at least one of at least a part of the first guided protrusion 91 and at least a part of the second guided protrusion 92 is above the first rotation axis L1 / straight line M in the up-down direction. This design can make the layout of the process cartridge 100 more reasonable and stronger, and also facilitate the assembly of the developing unit 1 and the photosensitive unit 2.

[0037] In some embodiments, the guide 8 can also be designed as an arc or a polygon, which can also achieve the above technical effects.

[0038] In some embodiments, the guide 8 can be designed as a protrusion, and the guided member 9 is designed as a hole.

[0039] In some embodiments, the guide 8 can also be arranged on one of the cover 13 and the developing housing 10, and the guided member 9 is arranged on the first end cover body 410, as long as the relative movement between the developing unit 1 and the photosensitive unit 2 can be achieved.

[0040] As described above, when the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 are in the state of approaching each other or in the state of moving away from each other, at least a part of the guided member 9 is above the first rotation axis L1 / straight line M in the up-down direction. This design can make the layout of the process cartridge 100 more reasonable and stronger, and also facilitate the assembly of the developing unit 1 and the photosensitive unit 2.

[0041] Embodiment Two

[0042] As shown in the figure, Figure 5A And Figure 5B Next, the embodiment two of the present application will be introduced. The same as the above embodiment, the same parts of the present embodiment will not be described again.

[0043] As shown in the figure, Figure 5A And Figure 5BAs shown, a straight line M parallel to the front-back direction is drawn through the first rotation axis L1. The processing box 100 is projected onto a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Observing the processing box 100 along the longitudinal direction, when the processing box 100 is in a state where the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 are close to each other, along the vertical direction, one of the straight line L3 where the projection center P1 of the first guided protrusion 91 is located and the straight line L4 where the projection center P2 of the second guided protrusion 92 is located are flush with the first rotation axis L1 / straight line M; when the processing box 100 is in a state where the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 are separated from each other, along the vertical direction, one of the straight line L3 where the projection center P1 of the first guided protrusion 91 is located and the straight line L4 where the projection center P2 of the second guided protrusion 92 is located are not flush with the first rotation axis L1 / straight line M.

[0044] Example 3

[0045] like Figure 6 , Figure 7A and Figure 7B As shown, the following will introduce Embodiment 3 of this application. The similarities with the above embodiments will not be repeated in this embodiment.

[0046] In this embodiment, the guide member 9 is configured to be integrally formed with the first end cap body 410, or separately formed with the first end cap body 410. In this case, the guide member 8 is disposed on one of the protective cover 13 and the developing housing 10.

[0047] like Figure 6 As shown, when the guided member 9 and the first end cap body 410 are separately formed, the guided member 9 and the first end cap body 410 are preferably fitted with a shaft hole. Further, the guided member 9 is configured as a rotating shaft, including a first rotating shaft 91 and a second rotating shaft 92. The first end cap 41 has a first through hole 41a and a second through hole 41b formed on the first end cap body 410. The first through hole 41a is used to fit with the first rotating shaft 91, and the second through hole 41b is used to fit with the second rotating shaft 92.

[0048] like Figure 7A and Figure 7B As shown, a straight line M parallel to the front-back direction is drawn through the first rotation axis L1. When observing the processing box 100 in the longitudinal direction, whether the developing roller 11 and the photosensitive drum 21 are close to each other or separated from each other, at least a part of the guided member 9 is located above the first rotation axis L1 / straight line M in the vertical direction.

[0049] According to the inventive concept of this utility model, the number of the guided member 9 can be one or more, that is, both the guided member 9 and the guide member 8 are set to at least one.

Claims

1. A processing box, detachably mounted into an imaging device, characterized in that, The processing box includes: A developing unit has a developing housing and a developing roller rotatably disposed in the developing housing, the developing roller being used to carry a developing agent contained in the developing housing; A photosensitive unit has a photosensitive housing and a photosensitive drum rotatably disposed in the photosensitive housing, wherein the developing roller is used to supply developing agent to the photosensitive drum; The direction in the processing box where the developing roller and photosensitive drum are not installed is downward, and the direction opposite to downward is upward; A first driving force receiver is used to receive the driving force output by the imaging device to rotate about a first rotation axis, and at least to drive the developing roller to rotate. Guide components are used to guide the movement of the developing unit relative to the photosensitive unit, so that the developing roller and the photosensitive drum approach or separate from each other; The guided component, used to mate with the guiding component; At least a portion of the guided component is located above the first axis of rotation.

2. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, All the guided components are located above the first rotation axis.

3. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide is configured as a straight line, and when viewed along the first rotation axis, the projection of the guide is rectangular.

4. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, One of the guide and the guided component is configured as a guide hole, and the other is configured as a guided protrusion.

5. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing box is also provided with a driving force transmission component for transmitting driving force; The developing roller extends in a left-right direction. The processing box also includes a cover and a first end cap. The cover is fixedly connected to the developing housing. In the left-right direction, the cover is located between the developing housing and the first end cap. The cover is used to protect at least a part of the driving force transmission assembly. The first driving force receiving member is exposed through the first end cap. One of the guide and the guided is disposed on the cover or developing housing, and the other is disposed on the first end cap.

6. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing box is also provided with a driving force transmission component for transmitting driving force; The developing roller extends in a left-right direction. The processing box also includes a cover and a first end cap. The cover is fixedly connected to the developing housing. In the left-right direction, the cover is located between the developing housing and the first end cap. The cover is used to protect at least a part of the driving force transmission assembly. The first driving force receiving member is exposed through the first end cap. The guided component is formed separately from the first end cap, and the guided component is disposed on the protective cover or developing housing.

7. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing box has a first end cap, through which the first driving force receiver is exposed; The first end cap is integrally formed with the photosensitive housing.

8. The processing box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guided component includes a first guided protrusion and a second guided protrusion spaced apart from each other. The guided component is projected onto a plane perpendicular to the first rotation axis. When the processing cartridge is in a state where the developing roller and the photosensitive drum are close to each other, when viewed along the first rotation axis, one of the straight lines where the projection centers of the first guided protrusion and the second guided protrusion are located is flush with the first rotation axis in the vertical direction.

Images